Written questions by Baldwin.

Whether his Department plans to issue embargoed copies of the industrial strategy.

The Industrial Strategy will be published shortly, and the department is currently finalising plans for publication.

How much funding has been allocated to Holiday Activities and Food Programme in each of the last three financial years; and how much funding has been allocated in each financial year of the 2025 Spending Review period.

The government is committed to the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme to ensure children who are eligible for free school meals can access enriching activities and healthy meals.The department has invested £205 million per year for 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 in free holiday club places for children from low-income families through the HAF programme.We are currently working through the outcomes of the Spending Review, and we will share further information in relation to the future of the HAF programme in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the research published by IoD entitled IoD research finds employment law reforms will damage UK economic growth, published on 6 June 2025.

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes con-sideration of impacts on economic growth. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessmentsThis represents the best estimate for the likely impacts, including on economic growth, given the current stage of policy development. We are refining our analysis as policy development continues, working closely with external experts, businesses and trade unions.The department regularly meets with the Institute of Directors to discuss a range of policies included in the Employment Rights Bill and, as with all stakeholders, we value the insight they provide.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the capital budget for flood defences was in each of the last three fiscal years; and what the capital budget for flood defences is for each year of the 2025 Spending Review period.

We are investing £2.65 billion over two years in 2024/25 to 2025/26 maintain, repair, and build flood defences. As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, the Spending Review settlement committed a further £4.2 billion total investment over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across the country. This is £1.4 billion on average each year – a 5% increase on the current average of £1.33 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26. Further details will be published at Main Estimates. Information on previous years spend is published as part of the Environment Agency Section 18 reports which can be found here Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report - GOV.UK. We are consulting on proposals for reforming flood defence funding, protecting all communities including rural, coastal, and poorer areas.

What budget was allocated to the Office for Investment in the spending review 2025.

£3.8 billion was allocated to The Department for Business and Trade as part of the Spending Review, which includes funding for the Office for Investment (OfI). As set out previously, (9th June), the OfI's budget for FY 2025/6 is £24,671,291.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Record-breaking International Investment Summit secures £63 billion and nearly 38,000 jobs for the UK, published on 14 October 2024, what the regional breakdown is of those jobs.

The figures released as part of the International Investment Summit last autumn are aggregate values of investment plans from several multi-national enterprises. The Office for Investment does not hold information from companies on the regional breakdown of their job proposals in their investment plans.

What key performance indicators his Department plans to use to measure the success of the Office for Investment; and how these differ from key performance indicators outlined at the launch of the Office.

The Office for Investment (OfI) is focusing on building and converting a pipeline of significant investments opportunities, delivering economic growth and strategic government priorities. This was also the focus of the OfI when originally launched in 2020 but there is now a greater expectation on the number of significant opportunities that will be supported.As demonstrated in the DBT Inward Investment Results 2024-25, DBT and OfI measure and report on several aspects of investments supported by the government’s investment promotion service including Gross Value Add (GVA) and jobs created outside of London and the South East.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Ofgem's readiness criteria for the UK data centre sector on growth in that sector.

The Government has worked closely with Ofgem and NESO on major reforms to the grid connections process. These reforms are expected to deprioritise up to 500GW of excess generation and storage capacity from the connections queue, freeing up capacity for viable connection customers across GB, such as data centres. The ‘readiness’ criteria will ensure that limited grid capacity is allocated fairly, prioritising connection offers for projects, including data centres, that are demonstrably ready to deliver – helping maximise efficient use of the network. The AI Energy Council will also consider grid connections opportunities for growth in the data centre sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, how many staff were allocated to the expanded Office for Investment in each month from July 2024.

The number of staff (FTE) in the Office for Investment (OfI) was c.30 from July 2024 to June 2025. When the expanded OfI was launched on 5th June 2025, this figure increased to c. 230 FTE.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, in May of which year the expanded Office for Investment will be operational.

The expanded Office for Investment (OfI) was officially launched on 5th June 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, what expenditure has been incurred to allocate (a) office space, (b) furnishings and (c)) computers to the Office for Investment since July 2024.

The overall budget for the Office for Investment (OfI) and the Investment Directorate (ID) for FY 2024/5 was £27,630,000. This included expenditure on the three categories outlined above but no specific further provision was made.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, what the budget is of the expanded Office for Investment.

The budget for the Office for Investment (OfI) for FY 2025/6 is £24,671,291.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2024 to Question 53498 on the Office for Investment, where the expanded Office for Investment will be located.

The Office for Investment (OfI) is a joint unit that works across the Department of Business and Trade, HM Treasury (HMT), and No 10 Downing Street to bring in top-tier investment to the UK. The main base will be in DBT offices. Seconded staff to HMT will be located at HMT buildings. The Minister will have offices in both DBT and HMT.

Whether he plans to commission an independent investigation into the Post Office data breach in June 2024.

These matters are the responsibility of the Post Office, although the Department for Business and Trade has made clear to them the very serious view which we take of this breach and the need to avoid similar failings in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office is responsible for independent oversight of data protection matters.

What his planned timeline is for compensation payments to people impacted by the Post Office data breach in June 2024.

These matters are the responsibility of the Post Office, although the Department for Business and Trade has made clear to them the very serious view which we take of this breach and the need to avoid similar failings in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office is responsible for independent oversight of data protection matters.

What steps the Post Office has taken to prevent future data breaches.

These matters are the responsibility of the Post Office, although the Department for Business and Trade has made clear to them the very serious view which we take of this breach and the need to avoid similar failings in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office is responsible for independent oversight of data protection matters.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of skilled workers entering employment as a result of construction skills funding in the Spring Statement 2025.

The government is committed to addressing skills shortages in the construction sector and supporting workforce growth. In the Spring Statement 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a £625 million investment to train 60,000 skilled construction workers by 2029, supporting the delivery of 1.5 million homes and economic growth. This includes £165 million for college construction courses, £100 million for ten new Technical Excellence Colleges, and £32 million via the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for 40,000 industry placements annually.From August, new foundation apprenticeships, backed by a £3 billion apprenticeship budget, will launch, with construction among the key sectors. Employers will receive £2,000 for each foundation apprentice, and three new construction standards will be introduced. CITB is also expanding its New Entrant Support Team, while partnerships like the Persimmon Homes Academy are improving retention and progression.In addition, the department recently announced over £190 million in additional funding for 16 to 19 education in 2025/26, including £160 million for colleges and £30 million for school-based provision. This is in addition to construction-specific skills funding.To further support teaching capacity, we are expanding initiatives such as Taking Teaching Further, targeted retention payments, and a £20 million Teacher Industry Exchange scheme, promoting collaboration between further education providers and construction employers.

With reference to the Spring Statement 2025, published on 26 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding for (a) improving skills and (b) increasing recruitment in the construction sector in the context of trends in apprenticeship retention rates.

The government is committed to addressing skills shortages in the construction sector and supporting workforce growth. In the Spring Statement 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a £625 million investment to train 60,000 skilled construction workers by 2029, supporting the delivery of 1.5 million homes and economic growth. This includes £165 million for college construction courses, £100 million for ten new Technical Excellence Colleges, and £32 million via the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for 40,000 industry placements annually.From August, new foundation apprenticeships, backed by a £3 billion apprenticeship budget, will launch, with construction among the key sectors. Employers will receive £2,000 for each foundation apprentice, and three new construction standards will be introduced. CITB is also expanding its New Entrant Support Team, while partnerships like the Persimmon Homes Academy are improving retention and progression.In addition, the department recently announced over £190 million in additional funding for 16 to 19 education in 2025/26, including £160 million for colleges and £30 million for school-based provision. This is in addition to construction-specific skills funding.To further support teaching capacity, we are expanding initiatives such as Taking Teaching Further, targeted retention payments, and a £20 million Teacher Industry Exchange scheme, promoting collaboration between further education providers and construction employers.

With reference to the fourth iteration of the Post Office's Banking Framework, published on 30 April 2025, what steps his Department is taking to expand access through post offices to (a) cash and (b) banking services.

The Government welcomes Banking Framework 4, which provides both personal and business customers with certainty about access to services provided through the post office network to the end of the decade, including vital in-person cash and banking services. As well as improving cash services for the people and businesses that need it most, Banking Framework 4 will also provide a better commercial offer for postmasters over the next five years.

Whether her Department collects information on the number of cheques issued by (a) the Government and (b) central government public bodies in 2024-25.

Cheques are issued individually by Government Departments and other central government public bodies. HM Treasury does not collect information on the number of cheques issued.